ALI inspection Process in brief

1
ALI inspection Processin brief

• Barry Lewis
• Inspection Manager
• Adult Learning Inspectorate

2
The Starting Point

• Independent, objective, valid
• Open and transparent process
• Professional judgements by experts
• Done with, not to (nominee)
• Direct, open feedback(constructive not
  confrontational)
• Focus on the learners experience
• Purpose continuous improvement

3
Inspection Process

• Initial contact
• Planning sampling strategies
• Team selection and notification
• Evidence collection
• Daily feedback and discussion
• Grading
• Final Feedback
• Report

4
Initial Contact

• Pseudo random selection of providers
• Period of notice from 3 months to none,
  (depending on context)
• Lead inspector selected
• Phone call to provider and planning meeting
  arranged
• Outline team requirements identified

5
Planning

• Lead inspector and nominee
• Confirm scope of inspection
• Select and agree sample
• Lesson observations
• Interviews (managers staff and learners)
• Workplace visits
• Sort out the logistics of the schedule

6
Length of Inspection

• This is determined by the size and diversity of
  the provision
• This could be, for a small work-based provider
  (25 learners, 1AoL), 4 inspector days. For a
  large GFE college (10,000 learners, 14 AoLs) 130
  inspector days

7
Team selection and notification

• Confirm the AOL expertise and numbers required
• Set up team (contracts for associates etc.)
• expertise, context trained, location,
  availability
• Lead inspector sends each a copy of
• The SAR
• PIC (pre-inspection commentary)
• Data
• Each inspector analyses the relevant information

8
Evidence Collection

• Each inspector will have their own area of
  responsibility
• Each will, as appropriate
• observe and grade teaching/training sessions
• where possible, observe induction, assessment,
  progress reviews etc.
• interview staff, managers, learners, employers
  and anyone else directly concerned
• review relevant policies, procedures, records
• although pursuing their own area, each will pick
  up on QA, EO and management to feed into the
  general view of these areas
• Where more than one inspector is responsible for
  an area they will pool their evidence and reach a
  composite view (perhaps one to feedback)

9
Daily feedback to nominee(Day 1)

• Usually at the end of the first day inspectors
• share their evidence base and initial findings
• review their plans for the next day
• Set out any requirements for the nominee
• The nominee hears and can challenge the findings
  and the evidence on which they are based
• Rarely any firm strengths and weaknesses at this
  stage

10
Daily Feedback to nominee(subsequent days)

• Second day evidence base substantial
• Firmer strengths and weaknesses being table and
  discussed by the team
• These will be recognised or challenged by the
  nominee
• Proposals and challenges must be backed by
  evidence
• By the penultimate day proposed strengths and
  weaknesses will be firm

11
Grading meeting(graded on the final strengths
and weaknesses)

• Grades will be debated by the whole team and
  proposed by the inspectors
• Each AoL graded in turn
• LM graded with sub-grades for EO and QA
• Lead inspector chairs the meeting
• Specialist proposes grade after other inspectors,
  then the leads grade
• No casting vote. Grade is a consensus

12
Final feedback

• Presentation by the team of the grades and key
  strengths and weaknesses
• Provider invites their audience
• Funding body representative present
• Not a reopening of the debate, but a chance for
  some expansion

13
The Inspection Report

• Each inspector (responsible for an area of
  inspection) writes their report.
• Basically strengths and weaknesses with an
  explanatory paragraph for each
• The lead inspector uses these to write the final
  report
• Details grades with explanation and background

14
Processing the report

• An inspection manager moderates each report
• When satisfied it goes to the ALI editors
• After editing the provider has an opportunity for
  accuracy checking
• Hard copy for the provider and the funding body
• Publication on the ALI website
• www.ali.gov.uk

15
After the Event

• Possible reinspection
• An action plan for improvement
• Access to TALISMAN
• Use of Quality Champions
• EXCALIBUR
• Provider Development Unit
• Annual self-assessment
• Next round of inspection